Growing Knowledge & Building Partnerships

President Martelly of Haiti discusses his development priorities Sustainable development is often defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It includes economic and social development as well as environmental protection. Last week, leaders and participants from around the world met to address this important topic. Over 100 heads of state attended and Presidents from some core FTF countries played an important role. President Martelly of Haiti held a press conference with  Ertharin Cousin, the Executive Director of the World Food Program, and others to announce an expansion of school feeding programs in Haiti. Particular mention was made of providing support to Haitian farmers to improve their market access. "This kind of program is among those that Haiti needs to achieve sustainable development and of long-term, in order to achieve our objective of eradicating hunger by 2025,...

Veterinary Training in Haiti Today is the first day of summer. Make this summer one to remember (and to add to your resume) by contributing to food security and income generation in Latin America and the Caribbean! Partners of the Americas is recruiting for specialists in a variety of fields to travel this summer. Priority areas are described below. You can also bookmark our Volunteer Opportunities Page which is updated periodically with more details. Have questions about traveling with the Farmer to Farmer Program? Click here to view our FAQ page . In the Dominican Republic , there is a need for specialists in greenhouse production of vegetables, including soil-less cultivation. Other specific needs include Certification of Packing Plants (fruits and vegetables), and Avocado Production. In Haiti , there is need for specialists in a wide range of beekeeping topics, including evaluating the network of honey producers and the honey value chain. Our beekeeping project has been...

Traore in San Jose de Ocoa Doussou Traore recently returned from the Dominican Republic where she completed a Greenhouse Horticulture Value Chain Analysis.  She developed a questionnaire for a value chain analysis which she used to assist farmers in the areas of Constanza, Jarabacoa, and Ocoa.  At the conclusion of her visit she presented on value chain analysis and the findings from her survey. Ms. Traore describes that one the main objectives of her assignment was to " bring awareness to farmers and technicans on the importance of value chain analysis as critical success factor in the development, efficiency and profitability of the farm enterprise". Traore with medium sized greenhouse workers  During this assignment Traore worked with greenhouse owners, local technicans, packing house owners, and storage facility workers.  The greenhouses were growing mini cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Some of the challenges t...

Minister of Agriculture Ramsammy gives the keynote address. The local chapter of Partners of the Americas in Guyana, in collaboration with the  Farmer to Farmer  Program, Caribbean Self Reliance International (Casri), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and others, is completing a highly successful shadehouse project funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). On June 5th, an Assembly was organized with close to 200 people attending, including the Minister of Agriculture Leslie Ramsammy and the First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar to showcase the results. The project aimed to establish 20 hydroponic shadehouses in Guyana and it has reached 48, with several more in the final stages of development. The event also showcased locally grown produce from the Hydroponic Shadehouse Producers, who attended the event and received certificates. The Minister of Agriculture s...

Small-scale farmers in the surrounding areas of Port au Prince have had great success in producing numerous rabbits through the support of Farmer to Farmer and Makouti Agro Enterprise, however the logistics of traveling to markets with the animals has presented a significant roadblock for the typical Haitian producer living in a mountain community. In Haiti, revenue from animal sales can make a marked difference in a family's ability to purchase food and basic goods, and pay for a children's school fees. Aware of this challenge, the Farmer to Farmer Program in Haiti recently collaborated with officials from the Haitian Agricultural Ministry to help form a network of rabbit producers in communities in the environs of Port au Prince, such as Grand Boulage, Kenscoff, and Croix des Bouquets. Among the purposes of this network are to share best practices in rabbit care and management, and to establish market linkages between more rural villages and the bustling markets of Port au...